A turbo on a Tercel may temper that model's tendency for torpidity, and today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Toyota does claim two hundred and forty three ponies at the tires. Will its price however, be worth taking a vow of Tercelibacy?

Did you rock the vote yesterday? I mean, if you're an American citizen and not a convicted felon where that obviates your ability to cast a ballot, did you do your civic duty? One would hope so. One - or perhaps many - might also hope that you took the time yesterday to vote on the massive and limited-function Custom '95 Cadillac Statesman Parade Car. If you did, you have a 67% chance of having voted that six door behemoth to a Crack Pipe loss. Maybe yesterday's other losers might like to take this on their drive of shame, as after all, misery loves company.

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You know what company doesn't love misery, but does seem to have an inclination for misery cars? If you said Suzuki, you're in the wrong article pal, that was yesterday and the Suz is as dead here in the States as a campaign promise. No, what we're talking about is Toyota, and this 1995 Tercel DX was once one of the most misery of fuel sippers. So much so in fact that it was proper to fuel it whilst extending your pinky finger and supping on crustless sammies.

But not this badass Tercel. Instead of frugality, this turbocharged Toyota rocks tire-melting frivolity. That is of course if you are to believe the seller's claim of 248-BHP shaking hands with the front wheels. That's at 19 psi, a pressure that's pretty much guaranteed to ensure an engine life akin to that of a fruit fly, but even at a less daunting 12 pounds, the tiny 1,497-cc DOHC four is said to magically produce more than 200 ponies. The seller doesn't say so, but I'd imagine putting your foot in it would torque steer this thing into the nearest parallel parker. Don't try this at home, kids!

That pressure cooker of an engine is attached to a 5-speed stick, and while Toyota gearboxes are generally known for their robustness, you know that neither it nor the Tercel's toothpick-thin halfshafts are going to put up with that kind of abuse. Fortunately the ad notes the car has been dropped an inch on its Eibach springs, so should anything let go, it won't have too far to fall.

The rest of the car is your basic Tercel four-door, with reverse cop car two-tone paint and iced rear lenses. Inside it's a sea of grey plastic, but looks eminently serviceable. A pair of add-on gauges appear screwed to the dash cap rather than the more typical and up-market A-pillar mounting, but that just keeps it in line with the overall Big Lots appeal of the Tercel.

Mileage is a surprisingly low 50K - these cars are usually rock solid reliable and rarely do you see them with so few miles under their tires. Those tires are mounted on a buffet of wheels, one of the sporty ones the seller says being cracked and not fit for mounting. That's okay because this car cries out for bare steelies and some seriously off-brand rubber.

Cheap-fast is usually a good combo, and while the seller says he has over eleven large invested in this Tercel, he wisely isn't attempting to recoup that all. Instead he's asking $3,500 to put you in the driver's seat, and it's now time for you to weigh in on if he should get that. What's your take on that price for this hotted-up Tercel? Has the seller hit a sweet spot pricing it there? Or, would that price have you telling the seller to go to Terce-hell?